Elham Rajaei , Forough Nokhostin, Maedeh Ekhtelat, Nasrin Masihpour, Maryam Dastoorpour,
Volume 82, Issue 11 (February 2025)
Abstract
Background: Autoimmune inflammatory diseases, which are often associated with severe and chronic complications, affect approximately 7.6-9.4% of world's population. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the frequency of ocular side effects of anti-TNF-α drugs in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Methods: In this analytical epidemiological study, 122 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis who were treated with TNF-α inhibitory drugs (including Infliximab, Adalimumab and Etanercept) referred to Golestan Hospital of Ahvaz, Iran, in 2019-2022 were examined. Ocular complications including anterior uveitis, macular edema, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, diplopia with paired neurological involvement, anterior uveitis with diplopia and keratitis sicca were evaluated by an ophthalmologist after six months of treatment with TNF-α inhibitory drugs. Infliximab was used on day zero, week two and four, and then every 6 to 8 weeks with a dose of 3 to 5 per kilogram of body weight. Adalimumab dosage was 40 mg every other week and Etanercept was taken at a dose of 50 mg weekly.
Results: From 122 patients, 59 (48.36%) and 36 (29.51%) had rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, respectively. Among 7.38% of reported ocular complications, anterior uveitis was the most common complication (3.28%). Type of anti-TNF-α drug had no significant correlation with the occurrence of ocular complications and eye complications were mainly observed in patients who used etanercept, but there was no significant difference compared to the other two drugs (P=0.1). The mean duration of disease in patients with and without eye complications was 5.47±4.13 and 3.22±2.58 years, respectively (P=0.03). No significant relationship was observed between the duration of anti-TNF-α drugs use and eye complications (P=0.66).
Conclusion: Given the higher incidence of ocular complications in patients taking etanercept, as well as the significant association between the duration of the disease and the occurrence of ocular complications, monitoring long-term treatment and follow-up of rheumatic patients taking anti-TNF-α drugs is of great importance.
